Chapter 234: Untitled
Chapter 234: Untitled
“Um…”
Everyone was utterly stupefied by Fang Cun’s words.
No one expected Second Young Master Fang to speak so harshly, leaving absolutely no face at all.
The disdain within his words instantly made everyone feel the gap between the two widening…
This Divine Eye Young Master had always been hailed as a prodigy whose talents matched, even surpassed, the legendary Immortal Master Fang Chi from back in the day…
But Second Young Master Fang seemed to be expressing an attitude now.
While the Fang Family still had someone present in Qingjiang City, how dare anyone else call themselves a prodigy?
Especially the three Elders of the Nine Immortals Sect and the Qi Refiners from the Seven Clans; their faces seemed frozen, unsure what expression to wear. Without realizing when, their gazes shifted from Fang Cun, who had walked out of the hall, to the Divine Eye Young Master standing nearby. They saw that he had already closed his pair of jade-like eyes, his face blank and unreadable.
He’d lost!
Someone suddenly interpreted this silence, grasping the thoughts in people’s minds!
If Divine Eye Young Master had emerged during this time because Fang Cun’s reputation was soaring, hoping to challenge him or even snatch some of that prestige… then after what happened in this hall, it was clear all Divine Eye Young Master’s efforts had come to nothing.
In fact, he lost terribly!
Two clashes within the hall. Not only had he not won, but it genuinely felt like a distance had opened between him and Second Young Master Fang.
It seemed to confirm the difference in their seniority within the Fang Family.
What now? He had arrived full of grand ambition, only to lose so pitifully.
Was this merely a bad opening move, or outright defeat?
………
………
“Se… Second Young Master Fang…”
Fang Cun himself wore a similarly gloomy expression as he exited the hall.
Victory over Divine Eye Young Master in these two confrontations didn’t seem to bring him the slightest joy.
Meanwhile, Elder Xue Zhizheng, who looked utterly broken, like a muddy puddle being hauled away, was about to be taken down to Lingwu Sect’s dungeon. Suddenly, he struggled and yelled towards Fang Cun: “Do… do you mean what you say?”
Fang Cun stopped walking, turned to look at him, and said, “I do!”
After saying this, he immediately stepped onto his Soaring Cloud and headed towards the Lingwu Sect guest hall.
Behind him, the Little Fox followed closely. After her, He Zhenzhang, Meng Qing’er, and the others also hurried after him. Their faces were a mix of worry and curiosity – curious about how Fang Cun had managed to make Elder Xue confess, yet worried because Fang Cun seemed deeply unhappy…
Not long after, Young Sect Master Xu and two Elders arrived too.
They seemed bursting with countless questions, but seeing Fang Cun’s stormy expression, they didn’t dare ask casually.
“Lady Meng of the Nine Immortals Sect requests an audience…”
Just then, an announcement came from outside the hall, making everyone exchange uneasy glances.
As former classmates from Willow Lake City, Fang Cun, He Zhenzhang, Meng Qing’er, Meng Zhixue, and Yu Qingli naturally shared a good relationship. But this time, she had come with Divine Eye Young Master. Due to a series of incidents, she hadn’t visited them privately yet. Only Meng Qing’er had secretly called on her last night, sharing some words and even managing to coax some secrets about Divine Eye Young Master from the Nine Immortals Sect disciples.
Until now, Fang Cun hadn’t spoken to her privately.
“Let her in!” Fang Cun seemed unsurprised by Meng Zhixue’s arrival, raising his hand slightly.
Meng Zhixue came alone. She wore a white dress, over which was draped a layer of light green gauze, making her appear graceful, even more refined than before. But it might have been an illusion; she seemed to lack some of her former sharpness.
“Second Young Master Fang, Junior Brother He, Junior Sister Meng…”
After entering, Meng Zhixue greeted each in turn, offering a smile to the Little Fox.
The Little Fox just regarded her warily.
“It’s been some time since you joined the Nine Immortals Sect. Why hasn’t your cultivation progressed significantly?”
Fang Cun glanced at her and frowned, asking.
Meng Zhixue shook her head slowly, not answering directly. Instead, she smiled and said, “My talent is far inferior to yours, Second Young Master Fang. Back when we parted in Willow Lake City, my cultivation was still a bit higher than yours. But now, merely half a year later, you’ve almost reached the Condensed Radiance Realm, nearly catching up to me. Once you break through, your cultivation level will surpass mine…”
She paused slightly, her voice soft. “And in terms of reputation… there is simply no comparison. While still in Willow Lake City, Second Young Master Fang already enjoyed considerable fame. After arriving in the County Sect, you helped Shoushan Sect retrieve the Treasure Body Method, provoked the Six Sects, slew the Demon Hound, then traveled through the Five Sects establishing your name: leaving words on Leshui Sect’s stone wall, Plucking Flowers as Swords at Yun Huan Sect… Even now, here in Lingwu Sect, you’ve secretly clashed with and decisively defeated a prodigy like my Elders’ Divine Eye Young Master. After this is made known, Second Young Master Fang will surely be renowned throughout Qingjiang City, recognized as the top prodigy!”
These words sounded complimentary, but everyone around frowned uncomfortably.
Hearing others say such things wasn’t new… but coming from Meng Zhixue?
Fang Cun frowned. “Speak plainly!”
Meng Zhixue bit her lip, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “There’s something I don’t understand!”
Fang Cun looked up at her but said nothing.
Meng Zhixue hesitated, then stated frankly, “Second Young Master Fang, others might not see it, but I can. You truly won your secret contest against Senior Brother Lu Xiao. Won brilliantly. When I left, my Nine Immortals Sect’s three Elders were still in their hall ranting in fury… But what truly concerns me is: The matter concerning Lingwu Sect’s Elder Xue Zhizheng… did you truly…”
“Eh…”
He Zhenzhang and Meng Qing’er were visibly startled.
Having been with Fang Cun throughout, even if he didn’t explicitly tell them everything, how could they not sense something? Such a prominent Elder of Lingwu Sect suddenly imprisoned? Even thinking with their toes suggested complications. They weren’t bothered by any intrigue – if anything, they relished it. But Meng Zhixue was different. What if this principled girl knew the truth…?
Fang Cun did not answer. He just watched her calmly.
Meng Zhixue’s face flushed slightly, but she still looked at Fang Cun and said, “I don’t know how you made Elder Xue confess… but I reviewed that case file myself. It was full of holes. Senior Brother Lu Xiao called it a frame-up. Harsh, but…”
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?” Fang Cun said coldly, looking at her. “Because that case file is sheer nonsense!”
“You…” Meng Zhixue gasped, staring at Fang Cun in shock.
Even He Zhenzhang and Meng Qing’er beside them were dumbfounded, their mouths slightly agape.
“And making that man Xue confess was actually quite simple!”
Fang Cun stated flatly. “Early on, when he was first imprisoned, I went and slipped him a pill. Do you all recall that Instructor named Lingxiu at White Xiang Academy? She excelled in Witchcraft and Gu; I learned a bit myself. I even raise Gu Insects better than Instructor Lingxiu. Once Xue took my Gu, his life was in my hands. What’s more, before he was brought into that hall, I sent a message, arranged someone to visit him secretly in his cell… and we agreed on terms.”
“If, once in the hall, he dared speak against me, I would instantly command the Gu Insects to enter his brain, killing him before he uttered a word, beyond any healer’s help. If, however, he confessed his supposed crimes… then I’d grant him a chance. Merely strip him of his Golden Core Realm cultivation!”
“The rest would be between him and Yu Qingli. I would stay out of it. If he lost their fight, well then, he forfeits his life. If he won? Even if he killed Yu Qingli right before me, I wouldn’t lift a finger against him. He’s no fool. Naturally, he weighed his best chance: against Yu Junior Brother, the Golden Core Realm versus Foundation Establishment? He believed he could win.”
“That is why, the moment he entered the hall, he immediately confessed to everything!”
………
………
These words left the entire group utterly stunned.
It seemed both surprisingly crude yet, upon reflection, perfectly logical.
Even they, if placed in that situation, would likely have made the same choice.
But the shock was that Second Young Master Fang had revealed all this…
So openly… to Meng Zhixue…
Instinctively, all eyes turned to Meng Zhixue.
She stood there biting her lip softly, seemingly a storm of thoughts raging inside her, forcing herself to remain calm.
Fang Cun, meanwhile, watched her with chilling indifference, his expression unreadable – a clear sign of deep displeasure to those who knew him.
“If you call it a frame-up,” he said icily, “then yes, it was. A costly, meticulously crafted frame-up that involved giving Lingwu Sect significant concessions to pull off. In the eyes of Fairy Meng, this is clearly wrong, perhaps even monstrous. In the eyes of those Seven Clans members, or that damned blind fool of a Young Master you brought here? They undoubtedly think this Young Master is cunning and treacherous. So now, knowing the truth… will you go running off to expose me? Demand justice?”
“You…” Meng Zhixue raised her head sharply, her gaze fixed intently on Fang Cun.
Fang Cun stared coldly back, his face impassive.
Meng Zhixue bit her lip until it almost bled. Then, she suddenly said, “If I exposed you… would it make any difference?”
“Of course not!” Fang Cun snapped coldly. “I told you the truth precisely because there’s nothing you can do about it!”
“I…” Meng Zhixue started urgently, but her whole bearing abruptly slumped.
“It’s true!”
After a long while, she sighed softly. “Second Young Master Fang… I genuinely came seeking clarification. This matter with Elder Xue…”
She paused briefly. “Do you think it’s right?”
Fang Cun looked at her. After several moments, his expression finally relaxed a fraction. He shook his head slightly. “Is it right? No. Framing someone is inherently wrong. If you investigate, condemn… I have nothing to say. But frankly…”
He tapped lightly on his chest. “…this Young Master doesn’t feel too great about it myself!”
Meng Zhixue’s face turned utterly pale.
Fang Cun leaned forward slightly, looking straight into her eyes. “I could have avoided framing him. But… what better way did you have?”